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AC down (loss of refrigerant)... need advice

The unit is about twelve years old but the compressor was replaced at one point (at least five years ago). It's a 10 SEER Carrier system installed by the home builder.

The unit was not cooling when we went to use it this summer. We had someone come out and they said that it had no refrigerant. They surmised that it most likely had a leak in the condenser unit and recommended replacement.

Right now I'm sitting with a few options... replace the condenser without verifying where the problem is with a leak check, have a leak check and go from there or replace both the condenser and the coil with a new 13 SEER unit.

A number of people have told me that most often leaks are in the condenser and cannot be repaired. That's why I'm waffling on the leak check. However, if it's not the condenser and I go with the replacement I'll be hosed.

I guess the big question is whether it's worth spending the money on a leak check before proceeding with either repair option? I'm guessing the chance they could find and repair the leak is small but....

As stated, most leaks that we find are in the indoor coil so I would opt for the leak check to verify where the leak is. It usually does not take that long with the right tools. Then you will have the exact info you need to make a logical choice on how to proceed. Without this how could anyone know what to replace.

If you change the system, get a updated new minimum 13 SEER unit and save some energy. As stated if the unit proposed is a 10 SEER its been sitting around for awhile. You may also want to get a second opinion on whats bad and a few more quotes to repair.

Thanks for the feedback. From your experience, are leaks often repairable?

If the leak could be fixed that would obviously save a lot of money.

Thanks (yet again)!

Yes the leak could be fixed, but another leak may pop up in the future in another component. If this happens it could cost you more in the long run. A/C systems have a life expency of 15 years. You would be taking a risk by just getting the leak fixed.

Fixing a leak in a coil, on a 12 year old unit really isn't worth it. You might want to do some checking around about your leak. The way my company works is that we will charge you to do a leak search and to find that leak....HOWEVER...if you decide to buy a system from us for replacement, we will credit you for that leak search charge. You should ask about this option, but I gotta be honest...if someone "surmizes" that your leak is "most likely" in your condenser coil....they are dead wrong. MOST LIKELY the leak is in your evaporater coil, NOT your condenser coil. This doesn't mean that the leak isn't there, but the fact that they failed to show you, means they are doing nothing more than guessing at where the leak might be. I would want proof of where the leak is, and as a technician, I always provide proof to my customers.

I would have a leak test done the company i work for also waves the leak test fee if u bought a new system from us. I would want to know wher the leak is 90% of the time the leak is in the indoor coil. as for equipment, 13 seer or higher and make sure if u do go with a whole new 13 seer system that they add a txv valve not a fixed orfice. running a fixed orfice will only get u about 11 seer on a 13 seer system.